Patients warned of extended wait times at Fort St. John Hospital emergency department due to high patient turnout

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency department is warning the public of extended wait times due to higher-than-normal patient volumes. 

Northern Health announced the delays via Facebook in the afternoon of February 13th. 

“This is a fairly routine message that we put out to the community when the hospital’s emergency department is seeing increased numbers of patients, so that people are aware that they may have longer waits in the emergency department,” says Eryn Collins, Northern Health media relations manager.

In order to help reduce strain on emergency and acute care resources, the authority is advising those with less urgent care needs to visit a primary care provider, family physicians or a local walk-in clinic.

The NH Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic is also open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including weekends and statutory holidays.

“Northern BC residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives,” said the post. 

Collins says the high numbers of patients may be due to the viral respiratory illness season.

“We’re really just encouraging people to help reduce the strain on those emergency and acute care resources, if they can, by taking their less urgent care needs to other options,” said Collins.

Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit or who need health advice can call HealthLink BC at 811 or visit http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/.

Virtual appointments available through the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program can be made by calling 1-855-344-3800 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

According to the First Nations Health Authority, the program is open to all First Nations people and their families living in BC and sees doctors and allied healthcare professionals trained to follow the principles and practices of cultural safety and humility.​

Anyone requiring emergency attention is urged to call 911 for transportation to the nearest available facility.

Northern Health’s virtual clinic can be accessed here.

Energeticcity.ca has reached out to Northern Health to ask how long the advisory is expected to be in place and will update this story as more information becomes available.